Gene Marrano
(from ABC News) President Trump is expected to put forth a nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court in the coming days, multiple sources close to the president and with direct knowledge of the situation told ABC News.
The sources describe the list of potential nominees as very short and including at least one woman. U.S. Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett is seen as a leading contender, two sources tell ABC News. Trump was asked about Ginsburg’s death after leaving his Friday night campaign rally in Minnesota and said he was not aware of her passing. The 87-year-old justice died Friday after a battle with pancreatic cancer, the court announced.
Sources added that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already been in touch with members of the Republican caucus after news of Ginsburg’s passing was announced. The Senate needs just a simple majority to confirm a nominee, with Republicans currently holding 53 seats. McConnell refused to bring then-President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Antonin Scalia in 2016 — Merrick Garland – to the floor for a vote, but said he will not do the same this time.
Timothy Sands (VT photo)
(Message from Tech president Tim Sands yesterday) After an initial surge in positive cases following the move-in period, all indications are that the rate of new infections has subsided at Virginia Tech and in Montgomery County. This is not a time to let our attention wane. There is much more work to be done to suppress the spread of COVID-19 so that we can incrementally advance toward a more normal semester.
Starting Monday, Sept. 21, the university will increase student testing with 2000 open testing appointments each week. A portion of this additional testing will be dedicated to mandatory random prevalence testing for all undergraduate students in Blacksburg. Mandatory random prevalence testing will allow monitoring of the status of COVID-19 on campus and in Blacksburg with a statistically significant sample of the entire undergraduate population. Students selected for a given week will be notified beginning on the prior Wednesday and provided instructions for making an appointment to be tested during the coming week.
Mandatory random prevalence testing is just one tool that we are employing to monitor and manage COVID-19 on our Blacksburg campus. We continue to perform diagnostic testing of students for those with symptoms and those who have been identified by contact tracing. In addition, we are regularly testing employees, including undergraduate and graduate student employees, who fall into higher contact categories as determined by the degree of contact with others in the course of their jobs on campus.
Gov. Ralph Northam
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam issued the following statement today on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The NY Times has reported that Supreme Court Justice Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died today of “complications of metastatic pancreas cancer,” the Supreme Court announced. This could give President Trump the opportunity to confirm another Supreme Court Justice in the coming months.
US Democratic Senator Mark Warner has issued this statement: Our nation has lost a giant. Thank you, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG), for your life of fighting for our most vulnerable and championing true equality for all. History will remember you as a trailblazer and a voice for liberty and equality.
(from ABC News) Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature,” Chief Justice John Roberts said. “We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tired and resolute champion of justice.”
Former President George W. Bush, who rarely found himself on the same ideological side as Ginsburg, praised the high court justice as a “smart and humorous trailblazer. Laura and I join our fellow Americans in mourning the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” Bush said in a statement. ”
(from Congressman Morgan Griffith): Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement upon the death of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “I am sorry to learn of the death of Justice Ginsburg. Her service as only the second woman on the Supreme Court was the capstone of a long and notable legal career.”
(from VA Attorney General Mark Herring) “Today, our country lost one of its true leaders. Rest in Peace, Justice Ginsburg. Her courage, moral clarity, and incisive analysis will be so badly missed. She paved the way for so many in this country and she has inspired generations of women to follow their dreams and make a true difference in the world. She transformed our legal system and worked tirelessly to overturn discriminatory statutes, making our country a more fair, equal, and just place. Her legacy and spirit will live on in every American whose life she impacted and she leaves a massive hole that can never be filled.
The NASCAR chase is in full swing, and the next stop is the half-mile track at Bristol Motor Speedway. The president of Richmond Raceway has a prediction — along with that of his children, as Gene Marrano reports:
Photo: RoCo Fire & Rescue
(Update 12:15pm) The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office has concluded that the structure fire on Electric Road this morning was accidental in nature, with the cause due to a mechanical/maintenance issue with the AC/Heat pump furnace. Estimated damages $15,000
A fire this morning at the Copper Croft apartments across from Tanglewood Mall. Roanoke County Fire and Rescue got the call just before 8:00. They found smoke coming from a second floor apartment and brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes. Two adults and a child were evacuated safely and were displaced. One person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
NEWS RELEASE: Roanoke County Fire and Rescue responded at about 7:50 a.m., on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 to the 4300 block of Electric Road, which is located in the Cave Spring area, for the report of a commercial structure fire at Copper Croft Apartments. First arriving crews from Station 3 (Cave Spring) found light smoke showing from the inside of a second-floor apartment. The fire was brought under control in about thirty minutes.One subject was treated on scene for smoke inhalation but refused transport to a local hospital. The apartment was occupied by two adults and one child who all evacuated safely. They will be displaced and assisted by Copper Croft management. No other apartments were displaced. The Roanoke County Fire Marshal’s Office is on scene to investigate a cause and estimate damages.
Brooks Michael, Carilion Clinic adolescent health educator, offers some advice on balancing virtual school lessons at home with the rest of your life – while many are still remote working as well right now. She spoke with WFIR’s Gene Marrano earlier this week … and here is a Longer Listen: